Rheumatoid Arthritis: Baron M

Pagnotta A, Korner-Bitensky N, Mazer B, Baron M, Wood-Dauphinee S. · Department of Occupational Therapy, Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital, Chomedey, Laval, Québec, Canada. · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #16265691 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: In individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), to identify the influence of wrist splint wear on pain, work performance, endurance, perceived task difficulty, and perceived splint benefit while performing various upper limb tasks. METHODS: This crossover study included 30 individuals with wrist involvement. Pain, work performance, endurance, and perceived task difficulty were assessed with the splint on and off. Using a work simulator, participants performed 14 tasks, 10 assessing work performance and 4 assessing endurance. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to rate pain, task difficulty, and perceived splint benefit. RESULTS: With the splint on, pain was significantly lower in 5 tasks, as was perceived difficulty in task performance. Work performance did not differ significantly with the splint on versus off. While mean endurance scores were always better with the splint on, differences reached significance on only one task. The task with greatest overall perceived splint benefit was "chopping with a knife." CONCLUSION: Results revealed that for most tasks, there was generally a positive effect of splint use on hand function; however, perceived splint benefit was marginal. For most tasks splint use improved or did not change pain levels, did not interfere with work performance, increased or maintained endurance, and did not increase perceived task difficulty. The findings suggest that wrist splint prescription is not a simple process; clinicians and clients need to work together to determine the daily wear pattern that maximizes benefit and minimizes inconvenience according to the client's individual needs.

Schieir O, Thombs BD, Hudson M, Taillefer S, Steele R, Berkson L, Bertrand C, Couture F, Fitzcharles MA, Gagné M, Garfield B, Gutkowski A, Kang H, Kapusta M, Ligier S, Mathieu JP, Ménard H, Mercille S, Starr M, Stein M, Zummer M, Baron M. · SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, 4333 Cote Ste Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E4. · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #19132790 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To assess the longitudinal relationships, including directionality, among chronic pain, symptoms of depression, and disease activity in patients with early inflammatory arthritis (EIA). METHODS: One hundred eighty patients with EIA completed an examination, including swollen joint count, and were administered the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) at 2 timepoints 6 months apart. Cross-lagged panel path analysis was used to simultaneously assess concurrent and longitudinal relationships among pain, symptoms of depression, and number of swollen joints. RESULTS: Pain, symptoms of depression, and number of swollen joints decreased over time (p < 0.001) and were prospectively linked to pain, symptoms of depression, and number of swollen joints, respectively, at 6 months. Symptoms of depression and pain were correlated with each other at baseline (0.47) and at 6-month followup assessments (0.28). Baseline symptoms of depression significantly predicted pain symptoms at 6 months (standardized regression coefficient = 0.28, p = 0.001), whereas pain and disease activity did not predict the course of any other variable after controlling for baseline values. CONCLUSION: Symptoms of depression predicted the trajectory of pain from baseline to 6 months. In addition, there were reciprocal/bidirectional associations between pain and symptoms of depression over time. More research is needed to better understand the relationship between pain and depressive symptoms and how to best manage patients with EIA who have high levels of both.

Hudson M, Rojas-Villarraga A, Coral-Alvarado P, López-Guzmán S, Mantilla RD, Chalem P, Anonymous00034, Anonymous00035, Baron M, Anaya JM. · SMBD-Jewish General Hospital and McGill University, Montreal, Canada. · J Autoimmun. · Pubmed #18644698 No free full text.

Abstract: Characterization of the extent to which particular combinations of autoimmune diseases occur in excess of that expected by chance may offer new insights into possible common pathophysiological mechanisms. The goal of this study was to investigate the spectrum of polyautoimmunity (i.e. autoimmune diseases co-occurring within patients) and familial autoimmunity (i.e. diverse autoimmune diseases co-occurring within families) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). A cross-sectional study of two convenience samples of patients with SSc, one in Canada and the other in Colombia, was performed. History of other autoimmune diseases in the SSc patients as well as a family history of autoimmunity was obtained. Of 719 patients, 273 (38%) had at least one other autoimmune disease. A total of 366 autoimmune diseases were reported, of which the most frequent were autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD, 38%), rheumatoid arthritis (RA, 21%), Sjögren's syndrome (18%), and primary biliary cirrhosis (4%). There were 260 (36%) patients with first-degree relatives with at least one autoimmune disease, of which the most frequent were RA (18%) and AITD (9%). Having at least one first-degree relative with autoimmune disease was a significant predictor of polyautoimmunity in SSc patients. No significant differences in polyautoimmunity or familial autoimmunity were noted between diffuse and limited subsets of disease. Our results indicate that polyautoimmunity is frequent in patients with SSc and autoimmune diseases cluster within families of these patients. Clinically different autoimmune phenotypes might share common susceptibility variants, which acting in epistatic pleiotropy may represent risk factors for autoimmunity.

Dobkin PL, Filipski M, Looper K, Schieir O, Baron M, Anonymous00072. · Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Que., Canada. · Psychother Psychosom. · Pubmed #18600035 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to identify target areas for psychosocial intervention for depressed patients with early inflammatory arthritis. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-five patients with early inflammatory arthritis (> or =1 joint with synovitis for > or =6 weeks and <1 year with a diagnosis of either rheumatoid or undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis) were referred to the McGill Early Arthritis Registry (McEAR) by their rheumatologist. McEAR patients agree to periodic physical exams and to completing questionnaires. Demographic, disease and psychosocial factors were compared between patients screening positive and negative for depression using independent samples t tests and Pearson's chi(2) test and then were entered into a logistic regression model examining the likelihood of screening positive for depression. RESULTS: Thirty-eight (23%) patients screened positive for depressive symptoms. Patients with symptoms of depression had significantly worse disease severity, disability, and pain, engaged in more emotional preoccupation coping, had less self-efficacy for pain and other arthritis-related symptoms, smaller social networks and were less satisfied with social support than the nondepressed group. In logistic regression analyses, pain and emotional preoccupation coping were positively related to the likelihood of screening positive for depression, while satisfaction with social support was negatively related to the likelihood of screening positive for depression CONCLUSION: Higher pain levels, emotional preoccupation coping and dissatisfaction with social support were related to depressive symptoms in this study. This suggests that the optimal care of depressed patients with inflammatory arthritis would include a psychosocial approach that addresses these specific target areas.

Thombs BD, Hudson M, Schieir O, Taillefer SS, Baron M, Anonymous00289. · Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. · Arthritis Rheum. · Pubmed #18311754 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Reported rates of depressive symptoms in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are high. No depression assessment tools, however, have been validated for patients with SSc. Our objective was to assess the internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and structural/construct validity of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in patients with SSc. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, multicenter study of 470 SSc patients. Internal consistency reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha and structural/construct validity with confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: Internal consistency reliability was good for the overall CES-D scale (alpha = 0.88) and for its 4 factors (alpha = 0.67-0.88). Correlations of the CES-D total score were -0.73 with mental health, -0.36 with physical health, 0.41 with disability, and 0.44 with pain. The 4-factor model originally found in the general population and validated for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (depressed affect, somatic/vegetative, [lack of] positive affect, and interpersonal factors) fit the data well, as did a second-order version of the same model with an overarching depression factor that loaded onto each of the 4 first-order factors. The 4-factor model fit the SSc data better than alternative models. CONCLUSION: Internal consistency reliability and convergent validity were good, the 4-factor structure reported in the general population was replicated, and a second-order model with an overarching depression factor fit well. These findings indicate that the CES-D is a valid and reliable measure of depressive symptoms for patients with SSc.

Baron M, Schieir O, Hudson M, Steele R, Kolahi S, Berkson L, Couture F, Fitzcharles MA, Gagné M, Garfield B, Gutkowski A, Kang H, Kapusta M, Ligier S, Mathieu JP, Ménard H, Starr M, Stein M, Zummer M. · McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. · Arthritis Rheum. · Pubmed #18311751 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinimetric properties of a new health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument, the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II), in patients with early inflammatory arthritis. METHODS: Internal consistency as well as criterion, construct, and discriminative validity of the WHODAS II were assessed in 172 patients with early inflammatory arthritis who completed the WHODAS II, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36), and other measures of disease severity, functioning, pain, depression, and resource use. Test-retest reliability of the WHODAS II was assessed by having a subset of 20 patients complete the WHODAS II a second time, 1 week after the first assessment. RESULTS: The WHODAS II had high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.96 for patients working or in school and 0.93 for patients not working or in school). Test-retest intraclass correlation coefficients of the WHODAS II total score and subscales ranged from 0.82-0.96. The WHODAS II total score was strongly correlated with the SF-36 physical component score (Kendall's tau-b 0.51, P < 0.001) and moderately correlated with the SF-36 mental component score (tau-b 0.43, P < 0.001). WHODAS II correlations with disease outcomes ranged from Kendall's tau-b 0.15-0.55. The WHODAS II significantly differentiated between every aspect of disease severity assessed with the exception of measures of health resource use. CONCLUSION: The WHODAS II is a valid and reliable measure of HRQOL in cross-sectional studies of patients with early inflammatory arthritis. Research is still required to investigate potential item redundancy and determine its usefulness in longitudinal studies.

Santiago M, Baron M, Hudson M, Burlingame RW, Fritzler MJ. · Serviço de Reumatologia do Hospital do Santa Izabel, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, Brazil. · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #17610318 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine serological and clinical variables associated with anti-RNA polymerase III (RNAP-III) antibodies in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) using a new ELISA method. METHODS: Sera from 242 patients with SSc were collected from 14 Canadian clinics. Control sera were from 287 blood donors, and 42 patients with infectious disease, 30 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 30 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Antibodies to RNAP-III were detected by an ELISA kit and antibodies to other cellular antigens were identified by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on HEp-2 cell substrate, line immunoassay, immunoprecipitation of recombinant protein, and addressable laser bead immunoassay (ALBIA). RESULTS: Anti-RNAP-III antibodies were detected in 47/242 (19.4%) SSc sera, 0% RA and SLE sera, 1/287 blood donor sera, and 2/42 infectious disease sera. Diffuse disease (59.5%) was more common than limited disease (36.1%) in the anti-RNAP-III-positive patients (p = 0.006) and there was an association between the presence of anti-RNAP-III and kidney and joint/tendon involvement, but there was no association with a nucleolar IIF pattern, lung involvement, or other clinical indicators. There was a negative association between the presence of anti-RNAP-III antibodies and anticentromere by IIF (p = 0.00004) and anti-Scl-70 by ALBIA (p = 0.0005) and line immunoassay (p = 0.003), suggesting a virtually exclusive presence of these antibodies in SSc. CONCLUSION: Anti-RNAP-III autoantibodies were found in nearly 20% of SSc patients but in less than 1% of controls, thus detection of this antibody is a useful marker to help diagnose SSc. As well, this antibody has prognostic utility, since it is associated with scleroderma renal crisis and the diffuse cutaneous form of SSc.

Santiago M, Baron M, Miyachi K, Fritzler MJ, Abu-Hakima M, Leclercq S, Bell M, Hudson M, Mathieu JP, Taillefer S, Jones N, Docherty P, Khraishi M, Markland J, Pope J, Robinson D, Smith D, Sutton E. · Servico de Reumatologia do Hospital do Santa Izabel, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saude Publica, Salvador, Brazil. · Clin Rheumatol. · Pubmed #17570008 No free full text.

Abstract: The objective was to investigate the frequency of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) antibodies in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), utilizing a new "third generation" anti-CCP ELISA (anti-CCP3) kit and a conventional anti-CCP2 assay. Patients with PBC, SSc, RA, and normal controls were included in the study. Serum samples were screened for autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), antibodies to CCP by a second- and third-generation ELISA, antibodies to "scleroderma" antigens (CENP B, Scl-70, PM/Scl and fibrillarin-Scl-34) by a line immunoassay (LIA), and IgM RF by ELISA. The frequency of anti-CCP2 antibodies in SSc and PBC samples was 14.8% (11/74) and 6.2% (5/80), respectively, and the frequency of anti-CCP3 antibodies in SSc was 13.5% (10/74) and in PBC was 3.7% (3/80). By comparison, in the RA group the frequency of anti-CCP3 and anti-CCP2 antibodies was 79.1% (38/48) and 77% (37/48), respectively. Anti-CCP3 ELISA had a sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR) of 79% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 64-89%), 93% (95% CI = 88-96%), 11.8 (95% CI = 6.8-20.3), and 0.22 (95% CI = 0.12-0.38), respectively. By comparison, the anti-CCP2 assay had a sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative LRs of 77% (95% CI = 62-87), 90% (95% CI = 85-94), 8.3 (95% CI = 5.2-13.2), and 0.25 (95% CI = 0.15-0.42), respectively. In patients with SSc, there was an association of anti-CCP2 antibodies with the presence of arthritis, but there was no association of anti-CCP2 or anti-CCP3 with anti-CENP B, anti-Scl 70, or RF. This study confirmed the high specificity and sensitivity of both anti-CCP assays for the diagnosis of RA. The presence of anti-CCP antibodies in SSc was only correlated with the presence of arthritis.

Gazi H, Pope JE, Clements P, Medsger TA, Martin RW, Merkel PA, Kahaleh B, Wollheim FA, Baron M, Csuka ME, Emery P, Belch JF, Hayat S, Lally EV, Korn JH, Czirjak L, Herrick A, Voskuyl AE, Bruehlmann P, Inanc M, Furst DE, Black C, Ellman MH, Moreland LW, Rothfield NF, Hsu V, Mayes M, McKown KM, Krieg T, Siebold JR. · Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #17299843 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To obtain a consensus on the minimal clinically relevant treatment effect in various scleroderma disease outcome measures to be used in future clinical trials. METHODS: A Delphi consensus building exercise using a survey was sent out to members of the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium (SCTC). The 65 SCTC members were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 was informed, in a cover letter, of the usual American College of Rheumatology 20% response results in randomized trials using effective biologic treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, while Group 2 was not. The first round of the exercise presented the scleroderma experts with a survey composed of 95 questions/clinical scenarios divided into 8 categories. These included situations where the treatment group improved, or worsened, or where some outcome measures improved, while others worsened. From the responses of this first round, a mean, mode, median, and range of responses for each of the 95 questions was obtained. This information was sent out, in the second round of the Delphi exercise, only to those respondents who answered the first round. The respondent's previous answer and the mean and range from the first round were provided for each question. It gave respondents the option to change any of their initial responses. The median of their responses in the second round was used to calculate the values for the minimal clinically relevant treatment effect. RESULTS: Thirty-two of the 65 SCTC members returned the first round of the Delphi exercise. Twenty-eight members returned the second round. Intraclass correlation coefficients between responses to round 1 and 2 were calculated for the questions. These varied from 0.99 (excellent agreement) to 0.02 (poor agreement). The p value was under 0.09 for 9 questions and under 0.19 for 20 questions. Standard deviations (SD) were calculated and were found to be lesser for each of the questions in round 2 when compared to the SD in responses from round 1, thus indicating a movement towards a consensus by the second round. An average of 33% of the responses were changed by the respondents in the second round of the Delphi exercise to a value closer to the median/average of the first round's responses. A range in required values for the minimal clinically relevant treatment effect for Modified Rodnan skin score is 3 to 7.5 units, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) 0.2 to 0.25 units, HAQ pain 0.2 to 0.3 units, MD global (100 mm visual analog scale) 8 to 13, patient global assessment 10 to 12, and diffusing capacity (percentage predicted) 9 to 10. The scenarios were especially weighted towards overall disease modification, thus organ-specific measures, such as 6 minute walk time (which has been used in many pulmonary artery hypertension trials), forced vital capacity, and a dyspnea rating (which may be important in scleroderma lung trials), were not included in the survey. CONCLUSION: Our study begins to address the current deficiency in our knowledge of appropriate values for the minimal clinically relevant treatment effect in various scleroderma disease outcome measures. A consensus could be achieved, or at least a range of minimal clinically relevant treatment effect values could be found for several outcome measurements. Of course, this consensus statement will be modified by evidence as it accrues in each consensus area.

Kang H, Baron M. · Division of Rheumatology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #15124265 No free full text.

Abstract: We describe a patient with a rheumatoid nodule on the mitral valve who developed embolic phenomena from an overlying thrombus. It is important to recognize that thrombus can develop on intracardiac rheumatoid nodules and that these patients may require anticoagulation.

Neville C, Fortin PR, Fitzcharles MA, Baron M, Abrahamowitz M, Du Berger R, Esdaile JM. · Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Arthritis Society of Canada Research Scholar, Quebec. · Arthritis Care Res. · Pubmed #10513496 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To identify concerns and learning interests of patients with arthritis. METHODS: A questionnaire was developed, pilot tested, and then used to evaluate 197 patients with arthritis, including osteoarthritis (OA) (n = 41), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n = 57), back disease (n = 55), systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 27), and systemic sclerosis (SSc) (n = 17). Twenty concerns and 12 learning interests were rated. Questionnaires were also administered to assess physical disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire), psychological disability (Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2), and pain (visual analog scale). Participants addressed accessibility of health services, satisfaction with their physician, psychosocial needs, use of self-help groups, and behavioral strategies used to assist coping. Patients with RA, OA, and back disease, at both a community and a hospital center, were tested to assess whether concerns and learning interests differed based on site of treatment. Analytic methods included analysis of variance, factor analysis, and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: There were no differences in concerns or learning interests based on treatment site. Between diagnostic groups, patients with SSc were more interested in learning about self-help groups. The most frequently reported concern was worsening of the illness. The majority of respondents were interested in learning more about topics that were illness specific. The physician was chosen as the preferred source of information, and the preferred format was in writing. On factor analysis, the 20 concerns were reduced to 5 factors: psychological, coping, medication, social, and financial. Three factors were identified for learning interests: the illness, traditional health management topics, and nontraditional health management topics. Stepwise multiple linear regression revealed predictors for the 5 concern and 3 learning interest factors. The concerns were best predicted by self-reported disease severity, physical disability, and psychological distress, while learning interests were best predicted by self-reported disease severity, pain, and self-help group membership. CONCLUSION: Concerns and learning interests of persons with arthritis did not differ based on the center of treatment or the diagnosis, but can be predicted by the level of pain and simple measures of disability. Better understanding of the relationship between health status and patient-perceived needs will result in improved patient-centered care.